Healthy Communities

By Jo Perkins

(Wampsville, NY – April 2012) College is filled with new challenges and opportunities. It is also full of germs. Dormitories in particular can be a breeding ground for all kinds of contagious diseases.

Illnesses spread quickly when your rooms are 10 feet wide. Your roommate sneezes or coughs and poof! you get sick, too. Preventing illness through immunization is one of the most effective ways to reduce your chances of getting sick.

To prevent illness and the spread of disease, the Madison County Department of Health recommends that you have the following immunizations before you leave for college:

* MMR. Students attending New York State colleges and universities will be required by law to show proof of immunization or immunity against measles, mumps and rubella.

* Flu. Campus-wide flu immunization is recommended to maximize protection of students from illness. It’s never too soon (or too late) to consider getting your flu shot; it can cause illness even in warmer weather. Immunization is available in the form of shots and nasal mist. In spite of rumors to the contrary, getting a flu vaccine does not give you the flu.

If you can’t get this vaccine before leaving for college, look for fall flu clinics at convenient campus locations.

* Hepatitis A. Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the hepatitis A virus. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter (even in tiny amounts) from contact with objects, food or drinks contaminated with the virus. The best way to prevent Hepatitis A is by getting vaccinated.

* Hepatitis B. Health experts recommend college students get vaccinated against hepatitis B, a serious liver disease that infects an estimated 200,000 Americans each year, the majority of whom are adolescents and young adults.

About half of all people infected with hepatitis B don’t know they have it.

It can be transmitted through sexual contact, contact sports, sharing razors or pierced earrings, when getting a tattoo or body piercing. Living in close quarters like a college dormitory may also increase the risk of exposure to hepatitis B.

* Chickenpox. College students without a history of chickenpox or prior immunization against it are urged to get immunized. Chickenpox is highly contagious and spreads from person to person through the air or by contact with fluid from chickenpox blisters and can spread more easily in the close quarters of a college environment.

Chickenpox can be severe in adults and lead to severe skin infection, scars, pneumonia, brain damage or death.

* HPV. The Human Papilloma Virus can cause cervical cancer or genital warts. The highly-effective HPV immunization offers protection from the most virulent strains of HPV and reduces the potential of cervical and vaginal cancers in females and genital warts in males and females. For both, it is best to be vaccinated before the first sexual contact.

* Pertussis. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory illness. Young adults may have a greater risk for this illness because the protection from childhood immunization eventually decreases.

This means that without a booster shot, a person is more likely to get pertussis, especially during an outbreak. Getting a booster shot called Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) will protect you from getting and spreading this disease.

* Pneumonia – Pneumonia is an infection caused by bacteria. It can cause severe illness or death. Getting immunized is an important way to help reduce the risk of severe disease. It is recommended that all young adults, especially those who smoke or have asthma, get immunized.

* Meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is usually severe. While most people with meningitis recover, it can cause serious complications, such as brain damage, hearing loss or learning disabilities. It can be a life-threatening infection that needs immediate medical attention.

State Public Health Law requires that all registered students receive information about meningococcal disease and the immunization that is available to prevent it. They must also have proof that they have received the immunization or choose not to at this time.

First-year college students who live in residence halls are at higher risk for meningococcal disease compared to other people of the same age. Immunization to protect against meningitis is highly recommended for all students planning to live in dormitories. Students who have not received a recent dose of meningococcal vaccine (since age 16) should get vaccinated prior to going to college.

Individual colleges and universities may have certain immunizations requirements. These requirements exist for your protection and for the protection of your fellow students. Be sure to check with your college or university to see if you are up-to-date on your immunizations, or you may be denied entrance.

Can you afford to be sick at college? Don’t take chances with your health; call the Madison County Department of Health at 315-366-2361 to schedule an appointment and get your immunizations before you go.

Jo Perkins, MS, is a public health educator with Madison County Department of Health.